What Is Osteopathy, and Why Is It Everyone’s Last Resort?
There’s Something About Mary…
Meet Mary, an active, career-driven professional in her 40s who struggles with ongoing back pain. She’s tried almost everything under the sun—consulting her family doctor, seeing a physiotherapist, getting regular massages, doing strength exercises, and taking medication. Yet, her quest for long-lasting relief remains unfulfilled.
After noticing her desperation, a friend recommended an osteopath or osteopathic manual therapist. Although she was skeptical, Mary decided to give it a shot. She would do whatever it took to find ease and feel like herself again.
Have you ever felt like Mary, stuck and frustrated about pain that refuses to go away? If so, you are not alone. And things can get better.
If you are curious about osteopathy but unsure about what it is or whether it might be right for you, read on!
What Is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a hands-on therapy that aims to release tension in your body’s mechanics, blood flow, fluids, nerves, and energetic channels to promote healing.
This alternative medicine focuses on treating your whole self by looking at your interconnected systems: the musculoskeletal, nervous, craniosacral, lymphatic, visceral, vascular, and endocrine systems. It also considers your psychological health, lifestyle, and environment.
The goal of osteopathy is to tap into your body’s innate ability to heal itself to improve its functioning, regulation, and maintenance. This may, in turn, alleviate pain, increase range of motion, enhance mobility and circulation, and restore balance in your life.
Although you may haven’t heard of it until now, osteopathy has a rich history spanning over 150 years! It was developed in 1874 by an American physician, Andrew Taylor Still, who wanted to find natural ways to remove mechanical blockages and facilitate the free flow of fluids in the body. The first osteopathy college in Canada was the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques, founded in 1981 in Montreal.
What Conditions Can Osteopathy Treat?
Musculoskeletal pain (i.e., pain in bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissue)
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues or jaw pain
Headaches and migraines
Muscle tension or strain
Sports injuries
Digestive problems
Respiratory conditions
Trouble sleeping
Emotional and mental challenges (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression)
Note that the symptoms or conditions may not indicate the root of the issue; they’re simply associated with it. A holistic approach is critical to peeling the layers and uncovering the real source.
How Does Osteopathy Work?
The first session starts with a global assessment, where we discuss your health history, symptoms, and treatment goals. We meet you where you are, ensuring we listen and understand what you are going through, your needs, hopes, boundaries, and what you are comfortable with.
Then, we perform a physical examination to assess vitality, posture, position, and mobility. We look at the “five spheres:” cranium, cervical spine, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis to examine major blockages, determine priority area(s) or where most of the tension is held, and where treatment will begin (which may not be the priority).
Next, we move on to treatment. Some of the manual techniques we may use include:
Palpation: Placing hands on your body to assess its condition (it’s like “listening” or “seeing” with our hands!).
Muscle energy: Relaxing and lengthening your muscles by asking you to contract them against our resistance.
Myofascial release: Massaging restricted fascia to release tension and promote proper gliding of those tissues.
Osteoarticular or joint mobilization: Applying controlled force to specific joints to improve their function.
Visceral manipulation: Using gentle touch to assess and restore the mobility of your organs, viscera, and connective tissues.
Craniosacral therapy: Utilizing light pressure to evaluate and release blockages or compression in the cranium, spinal cord, and sacrum to enable the proper flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
We finish treatment with integration, checking that all treated areas are connected and communicating smoothly.
Lastly, we reassess the body to see how it’s landing and feeling after the manual therapy. We might also discuss homework exercises and schedule follow-ups (typically 2-3 weeks after the initial visit).
Keep in mind that the number of sessions, frequency, and treatment are catered to your age and unique situation. Think of osteopathy as a customized “tune-up.” The purpose is to support your body’s capacity to recover on its own, so you don’t have to come back unless you need to.
What Can You Expect From an Osteopathy Session?
The duration of sessions varies depending on the practitioner. At Positive BodyMind Osteopathy, first sessions range between 75-90 minutes, while follow-ups range between 45-90 minutes.
You may experience immediate relief at the mind-body-spirit level during or after the session and gradual improvement over the following appointments.
You might also feel some shifts, soreness, and sensitivity, with your body entering its new normality three to five days after your visit.
What Are the Benefits of Osteopathy?
The benefits we’ve seen in our patients and our thesis research include:
Pain relief
Diminished headaches
Enhanced mobility
Lower levels of stress and anxiety
Greater sense of ease and calmness
Higher heart rate variability (related to a more balanced state)
Better sleep
Improvement in periods
What Sets Osteopathic Medicine Apart?
Holistic lens: Osteopathic medicine sees the body as a whole functioning unit, completely interconnected on a mind, body, and spirit level.
Root cause and preventative focus: Instead of merely treating your symptoms, osteopathy seeks to uncover the root of your pain or discomfort and prevent future issues.
Emphasis on self-healing: Osteopaths are not here to “fix” you. We act as fulcrums, supporting your body’s inherent capacity to heal, regulate, and maintain health so you don’t have to do the work by yourself.
Manual, personalized, and non-invasive treatment: Osteopathy involves hands-on techniques tailored to your specific needs, preferences, and goals. We sit with the body, dialogue with the tissues, and use micro-movements to open doors and allow you to walk through them. There might be a few adjustments (and hugs!) along the way, but we will never push you.
Collaborative approach: We collaborate with other practitioners like massage therapists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, and psychologists to provide integrated care that addresses your physical, mental, emotional, and social health.
Why Is Osteopathy Less Known (and Often the Last Resort)?
You may be wondering why you haven’t heard about us before.
Osteopathy is more known in Europe, the US, and South America. Training can vary widely depending on where you go to school, which could also contribute to why more Canadians are confused or don’t know about it.
For example, in the US, osteopathic colleges and universities have a system of higher education, licensing, and regulation. Practitioners graduate as fully licensed and globally recognized osteopathic physicians (Doctors of Osteopathy or DOs).
In Canada, osteopathy is not licensed or governed by a regulatory agency. There are associations, but osteopathic schools are not all connected. Canada’s top osteopathy schools include the Canadian College of Osteopathy (where our osteopath Sophie went!), Canadian School of Osteopathy, Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques, and Canadian Academy of Osteopathy. The quality of education varies, with online and in-person osteopathy programs ranging between 2-6 years, with and without a thesis requirement.
We recommend doing your research when selecting an osteopath to make sure they are equipped to serve you to the best of their abilities.
Are You Curious About Osteopathy Like Mary?
If you are struggling like Mary, searching for answers, or seeking care that treats your whole, beautiful self, we are happy to help.
Osteopathy is always an option (and it doesn’t have to be the last resort!).
Book a free phone or in-person consultation at our Calgary osteopathy office to see if we are a good fit for you.